The first settlements occurred near the present city of Wabash, after a treaty with the Miami and Potawatomi Indians. The first settlers in Wabash County were Colonel David Burr, Colonel Hugh Hanna, and Alexander Worth on January 30, 1833.

New farmland and the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal brought many people to this region in the mid-1830's. Wabash County was established, and Wabash City was first incorporated in January 1849.​

1850-1910

The first passenger train arrived in Wabash. The railroad continued to play a significant role in the development of Wabash. The big Four Railroads (the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad) were persuaded to build shops in Wabash. With the development of rail system, Wabash continued to grow. By 1888, Wabash became the first electrically lighted city in the world.

1910-1980

Wabash experienced continuous growth until the 1970s. This growth is due in large part to innovations in transportation and entrepreneurship.

Transportation innovations, such as interurbans and the automobile, helped to trigger further development in the area.Parkview Wabash Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital, a not-for-profit facility founded in 1919.

In 1934, the Owens Corning Company (now Thermafiber) was founded as a leading company in residential and commercial building materials, glass-fiber reinforcements, and engineered materials.

In the 1940's the Honeywell Center located in the historic district of Wabash. Built by Wabash native Mark C. Honeywell, co-founder of Honeywell, Inc., this historic landmark houses the 1,500 seat Ford Theater, Carpenter Plaza, Clark Gallery, Garver Sculpture Plaza, Eugenia's restaurant, and conference and recreational facilities.

Ford Meter Company (a prominent manufacturer of products for the waterworks industry) established its primary manufacturing facility in 1953.​By 1970, the city experienced growth (+6%) as its population peaked at 13, 379 residents. ​

1980-2010

However, the period between 1980 onward, the city’s population shifted as residents migrated away from rural cities and townships. Depopulation in the city equated to an 18% loss.

However, despite population decline new opportunities for reinvestment materialized as new industries relocated or established in Wabash. For example, in 1992, Real Alloy was founded as one of the largest third party aluminum recycler in the world. Additionally, in 2007 Living Essentials, one of the world’s largest non-alcoholic beverage makers, moved its distribution operations into the 145,000 square foot MarkHon building in Wabash, Indiana creating new employment opportunities.

2010-2015

Wabash civic leaders and stakeholders continued to undertake city reinvestment efforts. The community planned to connect destinations, invest in neighborhoods, improve downtown housing, and expand their capacity for regional activities.To this end, the city completed a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (2013). In 2013, Wabash was selected as an Indiana Stellar Community Pilot Program finalist and completed a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). The city did not receive the designation, yet, it was able to accomplish many redevelopment objectives, such as corridor improvement, public art installments, and façade enhancements. The city applied again the following year and in 2014, Wabash is granted Stellar Designation and begins the planning and implementation of its updated strategic investment plan strategies.

Wabash : Brights Ideas. Bright Future.

Population

Since 1980, the population in Wabash declined by 19.5%. This reduction is comparable to overall county population trends, which show population decrease as well (-12.3%). In comparison, the state’s population increased by 20.6%. Current trends illustrate continued depopulation. For example, 2015 population estimates Wabash's population as 10,381.

​Historically, Wabash has remained a predominantly White community (99.7% in 1980 and 96.8% in 2014). Recent data (2014) estimates illustrate that of the city’s total population, there was no significant population of African Americans, resulting in a null percentage.

Poverty

Wabash percent­age of persons living in poverty over the past thirty years grew by 163.8%. Since 1980, the percentage of persons living below the poverty rate has increased from 6.9% to 18.2%. This trend aligns with those seen at the county and state levels. Comparatively, Wabash County’s poverty rate also rose by 98.7%, while the state’s poverty rate increased by 59.8%.

Income

Wabash’s median household income significantly decreased over the past three decades (-14.5%). Most recent data estimates demonstrate Wabash’s median household income is $39,078. This estimate is approximately $6,579 less than the median household income of Wabash County ($45,657) and $9,659 less than the median household income of the state (Indiana $48,747). ​

Wabash: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Decline

Population 1980 2015 % Change

Race/Ethnicity 2014 (%) White Black Other

All Persons Below Poverty (%) 1980 2014a % Change

Median household income 1980b 2014 % Change

Wabash12,98510,381-19.5%

96.8%0.0%3.2%

6.918.2+163.8

$45,684$39,078-14.5%

Wabash County36,64032,138-12.3%

96.0%0.5%3.5%

7.514.9+98.7%

$47,307$45,657-3.5%

Indiana5,490,2246,619,680+20.6%

84.4%9.1%6.5%

​9.715.5+59.8%

$47,974$48,737+1.6%

Source: 1980 Census of Population, PC80-1-C1 "General Social and Economic Characteristics", table 245.U.S. Census Bureau, Census 1980 Summary Files 1 and 3. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts, 2015. Data derived from Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits. STATS Indiana, using data from Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Minnesota Population Center. National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 2.0. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota 2011.

a. Poverty figures for 2014 were the most recent data estimations from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Table S1701 provided for the specific geographic area.

b. The Median Household dollar amounts reported for 1980 are values that have been converted to constant 2014 dollars according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator, available at www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm.

Housing and Quality of Place

Wabash has many older and historic homes. Of the current 5,143 housing units, the majority (74%) were built before 1970. Of those housing units, approximately 38% were constructed before 1939. Due to the age of its housing stock, Wabash must address issues of maintenance and repair of aging systems, as well as the necessity to adapt structures to the needs of modern life. Since the homes are mature, they require maintenance costs that are not always feasible for homeowners with limited income streams. Additionally, Wabash stakeholders acknowledged the lack of downtown housing. City officials and stakeholders are currently planning efforts to develop multi-generational, multi-income downtown housing opportunities. Furthermore, community partnerships have been established to redevelop the near eastside neighborhood, East Wabash Historic District. This area is directly adjacent to the downtown and Paradise Spring Historical Park.

Beyond housing, stakeholders within the community also seek to enhance the city's parks and open spaces and improve connectivity. For example, Wabash plans to implement extensions of streetscape elements, including street lights, sidewalk redesigns to provide space for outdoor seating, new infrastructure to support mixed-use development and adaptive reuse, and placemaking elements that for an improved sense of place.

Community Economic Development

Over the past three decades, Wabash's population has been steadily declining, while household incomes have remained relatively stable. Similar to older rural cities and towns, the city suffered from a decline in its downtown business district which led to challenges of business retention and attraction. For instance, some the buildings downtown were vacant. Additionally, there was a need for improvements to building facades. City stakeholders sought to confront these challenges through downtown revitalization and a transition to tourism and the arts building on existing community assets of museums and performing arts.

"...For Wabash downtown revitalization development and transition to a tourism and arts economy in downtown Wabash built around assets, we already had in place and playing on our strengths. So playing on the strengths of the museums and the performing arts center and the theater that was already here were certainly part of the goals for downtown. Then cleaning up and putting life and use back into some of the downtown buildings that were abandoned."​

Note

This website is continuously under construction as research is ongoing.